A California Zoo Welcomed a Mustached Baby Monkey and Is Asking for Help Naming Her

A Mustached Baby Monkey Joins The Living Desert Zoo ​

A heartwarming new addition has recently arrived at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California – a mustached baby monkey! The zoo is now reaching out to the community for suggestions on what to name her. The little monkey, who represents the third generation of females at the zoo, was born on May 3, 2025.

With an aim to involve animal lovers in the naming process, the zoo is offering participants the chance to vote for their favourite name from a selection of four Swahili options. The community can cast their votes until November 11. Each vote requires a $2 donation, and voters have the opportunity to submit unlimited votes. The zoo has also announced that voters will be entered into a raffle to win a unique patas monkey experience.

Describing the baby monkey’s personality, the animal care team at the zoo shared that she is small in size but mighty in spirit. She is known to be endlessly curious and quick to explore her surroundings. Learning daily from her mother and grandmother, she can often be spotted dashing across the habitat or playfully leaping up rocks in pursuit of her elders.

The names up for consideration all have Swahili origins to honour the monkey’s African roots. The options include Kukua, meaning “to grow” symbolising potential growth in surprising ways, Upepo, meaning “wind” to represent her swift movements as the fastest primate in the world, Asili, meaning “nature”, and Maisha, meaning “life” to reflect the vitality and wonder of existence.

To participate in the naming and voting process, individuals can visit livingdesert.org/name-the-baby-patas-monkey before the deadline on November 11. Moreover, the zoo is not just focused on the baby monkey; they recently welcomed a troop of patas monkeys to a newly renovated habitat in the Village WaTuTu section on November 1.

The troop includes three generations of females, showcasing a strong family bond within the group. The patas monkeys are known for their charismatic nature and their ability to travel up to 34 miles per hour in their natural habitat of the arid grasslands of Africa.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is thrilled to engage with the public in this exciting naming opportunity and looks forward to receiving an abundance of creative suggestions. The community involvement adds an extra layer of warmth and connection to the zoo’s conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of preserving and celebrating wildlife diversity in our world.

So, if you have a soft spot for adorable baby animals and a knack for creative naming, be sure to cast your vote and take part in naming the newest addition to The Living Desert Zoo – the mustached baby monkey!